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Cheryl St.John

Second Chance BrideWhen Daniel Gardner convinced the residents of his Kansas boom town to advertise for mail-order brides, he never expected the woman he once loved to respond. But Leah Swann steps off of the bride train…pregnant and widowed and in need of a husband. Drawn to protect his fragile childhood friend, Daniel proposes a marriage of convenience.Seeing her one-time best friend waiting to meet the bride train is a wonderful shock for Leah. After her first rocky marriage, a practical partnership with Daniel sounds perfect—as long as her heart doesn’t get involved. But when she starts to fall for her husband, will her plans of a fresh start be ruined…or is a real marriage to Daniel exactly what she needs?Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boom town.

Second Chance Bride

When Daniel Gardner convinced the residents of his Kansas boomtown to advertise for mail-order brides, he never expected the woman he once loved to respond. But Leah Swann steps off the bride train...pregnant and widowed and in need of a husband. Drawn to protect his fragile childhood friend, Daniel proposes a marriage of convenience.

Seeing her onetime best friend waiting to meet the bride train is a wonderful shock for Leah. After her first rocky marriage, a practical partnership with Daniel sounds perfect—as long as her heart doesn’t get involved. But when she starts to fall for her husband, will her plans of a fresh start be ruined...or is a real marriage to Daniel exactly what she needs?

Cowboy Creek: Bringing mail-order brides, and new beginnings, to a Kansas boomtown.

“You’re one of the prospective brides?”

Leah wanted to grab on to Daniel, but held her desperation in check to simply nod. “Yes. Yes, I’m a widow.”

His expression changed, confusion turning to understanding. “I see. I’m so sorry.”

You have no idea. I never want you to know. “Thank you.”

“What about your family? Your father?”

“They’re gone, too.” Gone seemed an insufficient explanation for her grief, but of course he would understand the pain behind those words. It was an all too common story. The war had stolen so much from all of them. “Nothing is as we remember it.”

His eyes clouded with sympathy and something more. Regret. Anger. And then incredulity. He did understand. He extended a hand as though he wanted to touch her to see for himself if she was real, but he drew it back, self-consciously. He shook his head. “And after all that, here we are.”

* * *

CHERYL ST.JOHN’s love for reading started as a child. She wrote her own stories, designed covers and stapled them into books. She credits many hours of creating scenarios for her paper dolls and Barbies as the start of her fascination with fictional characters. Cheryl loves hearing from readers. Visit her website at cherylstjohn.net (http://www.cherylstjohn.net) or email her at saintjohn@aol.com.

Want Ad Wedding

Cheryl St.John

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

—2 Corinthians 9:8

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

Your mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning,

new every morning:

great is Your faithfulness, O Lord,

great is Your faithfulness!

Contents

Cover (#uc21f0a89-f007-59a8-a53e-703d9aaed8a5)

Back Cover Text (#u28625a17-069e-5a08-887e-e8dd3c89ee03)

Introduction (#u3104b99e-64db-59b3-95f5-e2dc61eed0bb)

About the Author (#u805554fa-9cf8-5fde-908d-9c31b93fc2be)

Title Page (#u95f5165e-a650-50e5-80f3-1495ae650aed)

Bible Verse (#u6c9f3647-77c3-5351-bda8-4f93a318c3c3)

Dedication (#u077eadb8-0dfd-59bd-8248-ea3394134686)

Chapter One (#u4ff2ca17-4b89-5928-b766-beccf3466b34)

Chapter Two (#u78a388d5-a673-52b6-9c29-0d194d7f3fde)

Chapter Three (#ua1af44fb-6f2a-55f4-9c1c-8f2f6087b648)

Chapter Four (#uf4482d95-cf76-55a0-b99c-2f526690d307)

Chapter Five (#u3f26007a-cc55-5296-ab45-8c07e4a187d4)

Chapter Six (#uaa14f437-ab0d-5eb0-a791-c2d97b7bb547)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)